Police arrest pair in car-jackings

Saginaw Police hope the arrest of two Saginaw residents will quell a rash of car-jackings in the city.

Police say Travis R. Crowley, 17, and a 14-year-old Saginaw male were targeting the elderly in the city, using violence to assault and rob them. The Saginaw News is not naming the younger teen because of his age.

A judge arraigned the pair Monday morning -- both on one count of car-jacking, a count each of conspiracy to commit car-jacking and each on a count of unarmed robbery.

Crowley is charged as an adult.

Police say the pair on Friday were in the parking lot of the Butman-Fish Library, 1716 Hancock, when they knocked down an 84-year-old Saginaw man and assaulted two 68-year-old women, stealing the man's wallet and car keys and taking the purses and car keys from the women.

Members of the Saginaw Auto Theft Unit and Police patrol officers combed the area and spotted the one of the stolen vehicles, said police Detective Sgt. Mark Lively.

After a short foot chase, police caught one suspect. A short while later police nabbed the second subject and recovered a second stolen vehicle.

Police say the two eventually admitted to three car-jackings, including one that involved an 86-year-old Saginaw man.

Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens set a bond of $50,000 cash or surety for each, and set a preliminary examination for each at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22.

Lively cautions citizens to "be aware of their surroundings when entering and exiting their vehicles, especially in open parking lots."